Tag Archives: #AgriBIZ

Software Tools for Small Farms

Posted by Melanie Buffel on April 29, 2020 19 Comments

Software Tools for Small Farms This article was originally written by Chris Bodnar, and was published in COABC’s BC Organic Grower, Volume 16, Number 3, Summer, 2013. It has since been expanded and updated by YA staff.  Find more farm business resources on our FARM BUSINESS TOOLS PAGE Many organic farms have a special binder. The binder holds field records, crop plans, a multitude of to-do lists and miscellaneous notes. The binder is sacred; should it ever go missing, the following year’s organic inspection would be a nightmare. The farm’s operations depend on a bundle of papers that, with one drop … Continue reading Software Tools for Small Farms

2019 B.C. Business Mentorship Network – Apply Now!

Posted by Kristen Nammour on October 05, 2018

B.C. Business Mentorship Network

Ready to Grow Your Farm Business? Are you a young (or young at heart) animal or vegetable producer living in British Columbia? Are you operating a new farm and looking for guidance to grow your business? Young Agrarians is excited to offer a fifth season of the B.C. Business Mentorship Network! This program pairs new and seasoned farmers together to cultivate the skills for running ecologically sustainable and financially viable businesses. Mentors work with you to analyze your operations and lay the groundwork for your farm’s business growth. What You Get As a participant in this program you will receive … Continue reading 2019 B.C. Business Mentorship Network – Apply Now!

Job: TERRITORY MANAGER – PEACE REGION, AB

Posted by Lilli Klamke on May 11, 2018

If you are an experienced sales person or territory manager, ideally with a book or base of farming contacts in the Peace River Region, then this opportunity would be fantastic for you! ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION The client is a highly successful, well-respected, progressive company, dedicated to providing growers with the tools and knowledge required to increase profitability of their farm business. They use a combination of industry expertise and cutting-edge technologies to help clients make better decisions about precision agronomics, variable rate technology, soil fertility, crop marketing, risk management, data management and carbon credits. They have grown and expanded steadily … Continue reading Job: TERRITORY MANAGER – PEACE REGION, AB

2016 Census of Agriculture Results Are In!

Posted by Darcy Smith on May 10, 2017

Farm data nerds, the day is finally here! Canada’s 2016 Census of Agriculture results have arrived—along with some interesting shifts in the sector. Here are some highlights of the good, the bad, and the promising: Farmers are getting older—and younger Farmers 55+ is the fastest growing age group, with the average national age of operators edging up from 54 in 2011 to 55. This trend parallels the general population. On the other hand, this year we saw an increase in the number of farm operators under 35. This is the first time there has been an increase in farmers under 35 since … Continue reading 2016 Census of Agriculture Results Are In!

Business Mentorship – Lessons Learned: Spray Creek Ranch

Posted by Kristen Nammour on February 09, 2016

Farmer at Spray Creek Ranch on a morning walk with farm dogs and sows

Name, Farm, Location? We’re Tristan & Aubyn Banwell.  As perhaps you’ve heard, we are located upon magnificent Spray Creek Ranch — in the rainshadow of the Coast Mountains, along the Mighty Fraser, in the Upper St’at’imc Territory, 15 km south of Lillooet, BC. What were your goals for this season and how did you work to achieve those? Let’s revisit our spring blog post, where we enumerated a few goals — “We are working to develop a producers’ co-op to coordinate marketing and distribution among our amazing local producers.  Our plan is to have a few producers selling to a … Continue reading Business Mentorship – Lessons Learned: Spray Creek Ranch

Goals, Growing Pains & Going Forward: Earth Apple Farm

Posted by Kristen Nammour on December 24, 2015

Shirlene Cote farms Earth Apple Farm, formerly in Burnaby and now in Abbotsford, BC. In the beginning of my mentorship I set some goals for the year and beyond. My goal planning was three-fold (1-year, 3-year and 8-year) and ended up being a page long, so I will offer the condensed version. In the first year I aimed to 1) net more income, 2) secure 2-3 feasible plans for relocating to a new stable long-term farm home in one year and 3) develop and adhere to a self-care plan. In the goal planning process I found it challenging to set … Continue reading Goals, Growing Pains & Going Forward: Earth Apple Farm

Business Mentorship – Lessons Learned: Granite Bay Farm

Posted by Kristen Nammour on December 22, 2015

Emily holds her son at Granite Bay Farm on Quadra Island

Name, Farm, Location? Granite Bay Farm, Quadra Island What were your goals for this season and how did you work to achieve those? To find some kind of balance between raising a young family and growing a farm. The secret for me was simplifying the growing. Focusing on 2 or 3 crops that were easy and enjoyable to grow. Did you meet your goals / Did it work out? It did but it took some getting used to. Part of what I like about market gardening is the diversity that you get to try out. I think that at the … Continue reading Business Mentorship – Lessons Learned: Granite Bay Farm

Business Mentorship – Lessons Learned: Lentelus Organics, Minto Farm

Posted by Kristen Nammour on December 20, 2015

As most farmer’s seasons are slowly winding down, mine begins. I’ve finally made the leap and moved on Minto Farm here in the Comox Valley to begin my career as owner/operator of Lentelus Organics. Lentelus, Afrikaans for “Spring Joy”, is a nod to my late philosopher/farmer grandfather who named our family farm Lentelus back in South Africa. I grew up spending my school holidays running amuck on the family farm, learning to love rural agriculture in the Bo Kouga. The Young Agrarians mentorship partnered me with Evelyn and Jesse from Terra Nossa farms, a great example of a profitable mixed … Continue reading Business Mentorship – Lessons Learned: Lentelus Organics, Minto Farm

Business Mentorship – Lessons Learned: Puddle Produce

Posted by Kristen Nammour on December 15, 2015

Name, Farm, Location? Brianna van de Wijngaard, Puddle Produce Urban Farms – Williams Lake, BC What were your goals for this season and how did you work to achieve those? My goals were: to start a CSA program with at least 15 subscriptions, to have 10,000 sq ft in production, and to gross at least $25,000 Did you meet your goals / Did it work out? (Explain a bit) Almost. I did start a CSA, and had 16 subscriptions. It worked well; I definitely had to purchase produce from other farms at the end because I didn’t have enough variety, … Continue reading Business Mentorship – Lessons Learned: Puddle Produce

Business Mentorship – Lessons Learned: Golden Ears Farm

Posted by Kristen Nammour on December 11, 2015

Name, Farm, Location? Tristan Cavers, Michelle Tsutsumi, Annelise Grube-Cavers, Kelsey Snelgrove, Paul Matheson, Golden Ears Farm, Chase, Unceded Secwepemc Territory What were your goals for this season and how did you work to achieve those? Our goals for the season were: To navigate a new model on the farm (shifting from a model of everyone who lives on the farm also works on the farm to one where everyone has their own enterprise, leaving only 2 out of 5 full-time residents working in the market garden) Figuring out how to farm with a toddler in tow, as well as Gaining clarity on … Continue reading Business Mentorship – Lessons Learned: Golden Ears Farm